ASTRO Reports All Round Growth

Kuala Lumpur, 30 March 2010

FULL YEAR RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT (for financial year ended 31 January 2010)

• Group revenue up 10% at RM3.3 billion
• Group EBITDA rose 24% at RM831 million
• Strong subscriber growth for India DTH JV
• Recommends fourth interim tax exempt dividend of 5.0 sen per share, totaling 12.5 sen per share for FY2010

ASTRO ALL ASIA NETWORKS PLC today announced its unaudited results for the financial year ended 31 January 2010. Group revenue grew 10% to RM3.3 billion, underpinned by a strong performance from the Group''s core pay-TV business in Malaysia. Group EBITDA rose 24% to RM831 million from RM671 million a year earlier, principally due to increasing demand for pay-TV and radio services. As a result, the Group recorded a net profit after tax and minority interest of RM233 million as compared to a net loss of RM529 million in the previous year that had been adversely affected by costs associated with the termination of pay-TV services in Indonesia.

The Group''s pay-TV business in Malaysia gained some 284,000 net new customers, bringing the residential subscriber base to 2.93 million, representing 49% penetration of Malaysian TV households and generating an EBITDA margin of 29%. AMP, the Group''s domestic radio business unit, also returned a satisfactory performance that saw it confirm its position as the leading radio network in Malaysia with more than half of the nation''s listening share, despite a very competitive market for radio services and challenging economic conditions for advertisers.

Astro TV Chief Executive Officer Dato'' Rohana Rozhan said: "Astro TV achieved an EBITDA of RM846 million or margin of 29% for FY2010, which is the highest ever in our company''s history. This may be attributed to a strong execution of our operating plans and disciplined cost controls. We recorded 284,000 net additions, bringing our total customer base to 2.93 million. The response to our High Definition services continues to gain momentum, and we plan to introduce new offerings such as Digital Video Recording, VOD/NVOD and IP connectivity.

2010 is a huge year for sports fans as Astro will be broadcasting, amongst others, all 64 World Cup matches, live in both Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD), Thomas and Uber Cup, New Delhi Commonwealth Games and Guang Zhou Asian Games in addition to our recently launched local sports channel, Astro Arena".

In India, Sun Direct, continued its development as a leading provider of digital pay-TV services where it registered some 1.6 million net new customers in FY2010, taking its residential subscriber base to 4.1 million. South Asia FM Limited rebranded all its radio stations as "Red FM" and now operates under a single brand on the same frequency in 22 markets across India.

Commenting on the results, ASTRO''s chairman Dato'' Haji Badri Haji Masri said: "The Group has achieved strong earnings in a challenging environment. The Malaysian pay-TV business continues to be the key driver of the Group''s growth and it is encouraging to see improving performances from the Group''s overseas investments. As a result of the strong performance and having regard for the funding requirements, the Board is pleased to declare a fourth interim tax exempt dividend of 5.0 sen per share, bringing the total dividend for the year to 12.5 sen per share."

Other highlights

Pay-TV

Strong results from Malaysian TV operations

• Revenue up 11% at RM2.96 billion from a year earlier
• EBITDA higher at RM846 million; EBITDA margin at 29%
• ARPU maintained at RM82 from a year earlier
• Churn at 11.4%, well within expectation

Radio
Radio operations saw higher revenue amidst a competitive environment

• Revenue up 1.3% at RM184 million from a year earlier
• EBITDA declined 4.7% to RM78.8 million
  
  

Summary of Group FY2010 Results

* Residential subscribers as at end of period

** Based on the Radio Listenership Survey Sweep 2, 2009 and Sweep 2, 2008 performed by Nielsen Media Research in August 2009 and 2008 respectively.